Michael Gove ‘wrong’ that ‘faith’ schools did not discriminate against gay pupils

Mon, Feb 20, 2012 14:54 CET

Nadine Dorries MP has withdrawn her
Sex Education (Required Content) Bill
, which sought to secure abstinence education for girls only, according to the
Guardian
. However, this good news comes amid reports that JFS – a state-maintained Jewish school in London – has
taught pupils
how to ‘cure gays’. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the withdrawal of the Bill, but emphasised that the JFS incident shows the current inadequacy of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in state schools, and the urgent need for a comprehensive, statutory SRE curriculum.

Nadine Dorries MP has withdrawn her
Sex Education (Required Content) Bill
, which sought to secure abstinence education for girls only, according to the
Guardian
. However, this good news comes amid reports that JFS – a state-maintained Jewish school in London – has
taught pupils
how to ‘cure gays’. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the withdrawal of the Bill, but emphasised that the JFS incident shows the current inadequacy of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in state schools, and the urgent need for a comprehensive, statutory SRE curriculum.

Commenting on today’s events in parliament, BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said, ‘If the Bill had been debated, it would not have been passed, and there was always a good chance that there would not be enough parliamentary time for it even to be debated. It would be nice to think that Mrs Dorries withdrew her Bill because she at last realised that abstinence "education" is a dangerously unrealistic and irresponsible proposition for our young people; in the more probable eventuality that her decision was guided by politics rather than a change of heart, we will all certainly need to remain on our guard against such foolish proposals in the future.

‘The fact that the Bill ever got tabled for a second reading at all has given all those who care about good quality, comprehensive sex and relationships education the opportunity to say so, and take a stand against the sort of unevidenced ideologically motivated policy making that the Bill represented.'

Commenting on the JFS incident, Mr Copson continued, ‘This highlights once again how inadequate SRE is as things stand. There is very little that schools are required to teach on SRE, and even without Ms Dorries’ bill, they can still choose to teach abstinence, or that homosexuality is a sin, or as in this case, that being gay is a curable disease. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive, high quality, statutory SRE curriculum that should be taught in all schools, including Academies, Free Schools and “faith” schools.’

Notes

For further comment or information, please contact
Andrew Copson
on 07855 380 633.

The JFS has
claimed
that they did not promote JONAH – Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing – but the group were certainly presented to students, and this conflicts with reports from pupils who attended the lesson in question.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

About Us

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.